Axle press



'Oct 25, 1938. c. c. BENNETT 2,134,501

' AXLE PRESS Filedoct. 18, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 v is Y I 14 l e F e262' 14 ZJ Claude C. Bennett Flg. Z v

. A m. ag 7|), 7 X ,1 7o fig dlo 4e v 52" V v I" 3mm. K53 j Claude C.Bennett Fig. 4 1

Oct. 25 1938.

Ill/M f4 Patented Oct. 25', 1.938

um'rso STATES PATENT OFFICE ma mass Claude 0. Bennett, South Bend, ImL,assignor to A. E. Feragen, Inc., Seattle, Wash, a corporation ofWashington Application October is," me, semi No. 45,572

9 Claims. (01. 153-32). Y

is a large cumbersome device, yet it is desirable that it be mobile, atleast to the extent where it can be moved from place to place over thefloor 1 of a garage,,and be adjusted to position beneath the axle of thetruck, rather than a device set in a frame or let into a pit, and it isan object of the present invention to provide an axle press for heavyduty which shall be sufflciently strong,

15 yet which may be compact and mobile.

It is a further object to provide such an axle press which is providedwith hold-down means and with hydraulic jacks, preferably both of whichare shiftable to different positions length- 20 wise of the axle andstrongback bar, to accomplish bending operations in any particularregion of the axle where bending l-s-likely to be required. It is afurther object, in conjunction with such an axle press which rests uponthe floor, to 25 provide means which enable the adjustment of thehold-down means to the height of any particular axle, which means mayquickly and easily be adjustable, to the end that the axle is properlyheld down without undue movement and 30 without the necessity of liftingthe axle against the hold-down means. I

It is also an object to provide such a device which can be employedequally well to change the wheel camber, and hence .the king pin slant,

35 and the toe-in of the wheels.

45 in is a further object to provide in such an axle press a means,particularly in'association with the pump, whereby the ram of each jackmay be quickly projected into engagement with the axle, and which may;then be operated to 50 eifect slower but more'powerful pressure againstthe axle, to accomplish the bending.

/It is a-further object to devise such an axle press which shall besimple in construction, convenient to operate, and yet sufficientlystrong and- 55 rugged, though sufliciently light and easy to handle thatit can be moved about from place to place to locate it properly beneaththe axle of a truck to be bent.

With these and other objects in mind, as will appear hereafter, myinvention comprises the novel parts and'the novel combination and er.rangment thereof, as is shown in the accompanying drawings and as willbe explained more fully in this specification and defined by the 5claims terminating the same.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown -my invention embodied in aform'which is at present preferred by me. a

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the axle press shown applied to anaxle, and with parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale through theapparatus illustrated in Figure 1, substantially on the line 2-2 of thatfigure.

Figure 3 is a transverse horizontal section through the. valve blocksubstantially on the line 33 of Figure 4, and Figure 4 is an axialsection through the pump and valve block substantially on the line 4-4of Figure 3.

b Figure 5 is a plan view of the pump and valve lock. Figure 6 is afront elevation-of the device, as it would be arranged to alter thetoe-in of the w wheels.

Figure 71s a plan view of the latter arrangement, and Figure 8 is asection on line 8-8 of Figure 7. y

The axle is illustrated as a large, heavy axle of the type used intrucks. It is usually desirable to bend such'axles to straighten themwithout removing the axle from the car, and while the springs, shackles,and the like have not been illustrated, it will be understood that theaxle remains in place beneath the truck and preferably the wheelsWremain in place upon: the ends of the. axle. The wheels may rest upon'blocks B, resting upon the floor F.

The axle press includes 'a strongback bar, generally designated by thenumeral l, and consisting of two vertical plates Ill and I i, spacedapart 40 and held together by end plates i2 and bolts! or in any otherconvenient manner. Each of these plates is provided, in the form shown,with an inwardly directed flange H at its inner side,

for the purpose of supporting the base block 20 45.

ofa jack 2. Preferably two such jacks are employed, the second jack, todistinguish it, being designated by the numeral 2'. 2 The strongback bar'thus formed is in itself large and heavy, and to enable it to be movedabout over the floor F, 60 it is provided with casters or rollers I5resting upon the floor. For a purpose which will later appear, theplates l0 and II are provided with perforations l6 at intervals. 1

Suitable means are provided, extending upwardly from the strongbackbar'to the axle A, to engage the axle and to hold it down against anupwardly directed force. Such hold-down means are indicated in generalby the numeral 3. As thus seen in. Figure 2, such means may consist of aclevis 30, adapted to straddle the axle A, a yoke 3|, having an eye inits lower-end for the reception of a pin 36, and a connection betweenthe clevis 30 and yoke 3| which transmits stress from one to the otherand which is preferably adjustable to vary the effective length of theholddown device 3. This may be accomplished by employing a screw 32received in the yoke 3| and secured to the clevls 30 by a pin 33. Thescrew 32 engages a nut 34 which is snugly held between the sides of theyoke 3|, so that it may not rotate. Thus by rotating the clevis 30 orthe head 35 of the screw, the efi'ective length of the holddown means 3may be varied. The pin 35, it will be understood, is received in theholes IS in the plates l0 and II, and thus the hold-down means may besecured to the strongback bar in any one of a number of positionslengthwise of the latter. Two such hold-down means are shown, though anyconvenient number may be employed.

Each of the jacks 2 and 2' is formed with a ram 2|, which may in turn beprovided with an adjusting screw 22. There is, however, no pump directlyassociated with either of the jacks, the jacks merely resting uponblocks 20, which rest upon the flanges l4, whereby the jacks may beshifted lengthwise of the strongback bar to any desired position, forcooperation with the hold-down means 3 in applying a force to the axleto alter the shape of the latter.

A single pump, generally designated by the numeral 4, is provided forthe supply of fluid to either or both of the jacks 2 and 2. This pump 4is shown as supported upon a valve block 5 which in turn is carrieddirectly upon the strongback bar I, so that all essential parts may bemoved over the floor as one unit. This pump should be located on thefront side of the strongback bar, so that it is convenient for operationwhen the strongback bar is located beneath an axle. Fluid is carried ina reservoir 6, which may be supported on the rear side of the strongbackbar, and is delivered through piping 60 to the inlet port of the valveblock 5 (see Figure 3). The fluid is carried through passages in thevalve block, which will be described in detail hereafter, and then isdelivered through flexible connections 52 and 62' to the jacks 2 and 2,respectively.. These flexible connections should be sufliciently long topermit any desired shifting of the jacks lengthwise of the strongbackbar, without kinking of such connections.

The pump 4 is preferably of a special ty )e. The pump barrel 40 isprovided with a bore ,or a plunger 4|, which in turn is bored to receivea smaller plunger 42. An operating handle 44 is pivotally connected at43 only to the smaller plunger 42. The handle 44, it will be understood,is fulcrumed at 45 upon a link 45, which in turn is pivotally carried at41 upon the valve block 5.

However, the plunger 4| is provided with a flange- 48 at its upper end,and a dog 49, carried by the pin 43, is of such length that-it mayengage the flange 48 and thus lock together the plungers 4| and 42 forconjoint reciprocation. When so locked, the plunger 4| is in efi'ect theonly one operative, and this supplies a large volume of fluid at eachstroke, and consequently effects rapid movement of the ram of the jackwhich is receiving fluid from the pump. Whenthe dog 49 is disengagedfrom the flange 48, the plunger 42 is the only one which is operative,and this effects delivery of a smaller volume of fluid, but greaterpower is thereby developed.

As a convenient means of controlling the position of the dog 49, I mayemploy a plate I which is pivoted upon the upper end of one of theholddown bolts 10 (see Figure 5), and which is notched for engagementwith the other such bolt, at the opposite side of the pump; A handlepermits the plate I to be swung from the full line position of Figure'5, wherein its cam surface 14 engages and forces the dog 49 out ofengagement with the flange 48, as the pump handle 44 is oscillated, intothe dotted line position, wherein it has released the dog 49, permittingthe latter to swing downward as far as the.

pin 49', thus placing it in position to be reengaged with the flange 48.In the full line position, it will be observed from Figures 4 and 5 thatthe plate I overlies the flange 48, and prevents the plunger 4| fromrising, but does not interfere with the reciprocation of the smallerplunger 42. In the dotted line position it interferes with neitherplunger.

It will be observed from Figures 3 and 4 that the valve block 5 isprovided with a passage 5| leading from the inlet port 50, to which thesupply pipe is connected, to carry the fluid to a port 52 and thencepast a check valve 53 to the pump chamber 54. The fluid'passes from thepump chamber, past a second check valve 55, to a branch passage 56, andthence past valves 51 and 51', to outlet ports 58 and 58'. At the portpassage 5|.

It will now be apparent that by proper manipulation of the valves 51,51', 59 and 59', and by control of the plate I, both jacks may beadvanced simultaneously into contact with the under side of an axle, thehold-down means having been first adjusted, whereupon if it is desiredthat the jack 2' merely resist a downward movement, the valve 51' may beclosed off (see Figure 3), holding the jack at its elevated position,and then the plate I may be thrown to the dotted line position of Figure5, and the pumping con-' tinued, whereupon greater force will'be exertedthrough the jack 2, to effect upward bending of the handle, in thearrangement shown in Figure 1, between the two hold-down means. When thebending is completed, or if it is desired to gauge the axle to ascertainif it has been sumciently straightened, pressure may be relieved forexample to alter the toe-in of the wheels, or -to straighten anaxlewhich has been bent in this plane. To this end I provide a pedestal 8which is provided with a base |i|l of a size to rest upon the flanges llof the strongback, and which is shaped at its upper end as a saddle toreceive the jack 2 or 2 resting on its side. Since the jacks merely restwith their base 20 upon the flanges l4, either one of them may belifted,

turned sideways, and placed in the saddle at the 75 50 a jack, apedestal supported upon and shlitable axle A may be regulated by'theprovision of suitable blocks B, so that the ram 2! of the jack bearsproperly against the axle. The axle may then be engaged by clevises 90at each side of the jack, each connected by links 9| and pins 92 and 93to a bar 9. the latter of which bears against the base 20 of the jackwhen held in the pedestal. The jack may now be operated as previouslydescribed, through oscillation of the pump handle 44, solidly supportedupon the strongback I, and thus reacting from the bar 9 the jack servesto bend the axle A between the clevises 90. This operation is usuallyperformed by one jack only. The other jack, for instance the jack 2' inFigures 6 and '1, may be moved to one end of the strongback, out of theway.

The drawings are not intended to represent the product in details as itwouldbe actually manufactured, but rather are intended as simplified andillustrative drawings showing hgw the principles of my invention may beemployed.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. A heavy duty axle press comprising astrongback bar, hold-down means engageablewith an axle to be pressed,anchoring means to secure said hold-down means to the strongback bar, aplurality of hydraulic jacks resting upon and shiitable along thestrongback bar, a pump independent of and operatively connected to thejacks,.a valve block operatively connected to said pump, and includingvalve means controlling delivery oi .fluld from the pump to any selectedjack or jacks, and flexible conduits connecting -means to anchor thehold-down means to the strongback bar, an hydraulic jack resting uponsaid flanges for movement. lengthwise of the strongback bar, a pumpmounted externally of the strongback bar, and flexible means connectingthe pump and the jack.

3. A heavy duty axle press comprising a support, means for rendering thesupport mobile,

4. A heavy duty axle press comprising a.

strongback bar, an hydraulic Jack, a pedestal shiftable lengthwise ofthe strongback bar, and

formed to support said jack in horizontal, posi-' tion, a pumpindependent of and operatively connected to the jack, a bar engageablewith the base of the jack, and tension members ex tending from the barto the axle, and engageable with the latter to resist bending stressesgenerated by operation or the pump and jack.

5. A heavy duty axle press comprising a strongback bar, hold-down meansformed to engage an axle, anchoring means to secure the hold-down meansto the strongback bar, an hydraulic jack supported upon the strongbackbar and cooperating with the hold-down means to alter the shape of anaxle, a pump, a conduit connecting the pump and jack, said pumpincluding a plunger of large diameter and a co- .axial plunger of smalldiameter carried by the first plunger, and releasable means to lock thetwo plungers together, whereby operation of the pump will operate bothplungers together when locked, for quick advance of the jacks ram, andwhen unlocked will.continueslower but more powerful advance of the jacksram.

6. A heavy duty axle press comprising a strongback bar, hold-down meansformed to engage an axle, anchoring means to secure the nection betweeneach such port and the corresponding jack, a passage in the valve blockleading from the fluid reservoir connection to the pump inlet, a checkvalve interposed therebetween, a second passage connecting the pumpoutlet with each of said two ports, a check valve in said second passageto prevent return of fluid to the pump, two valves, one between eachport and the check valve, operable to cut oil delivery of fluid to thecorresponding port, and a valved by-passage connecting each port withthe flrst passage, for return of fluid at will from either jack to thefluid reservoir.

7. A compact heavy duty axle press comprising a strongback bar includinga pair of spaced plates rigidly connected together, each having alongits lower edge an inwardly directed, longitudinally extending flange,casters supporting the strongback barfor movement over a floor andbeneath the axle of an automobile, axle-engaging members adapted forsecurement to the strongback bar, and a jack disposed between saidplates 5 and resting upon said flangesin disconnected engagementtherewith, said jack being thereby positioned to engage the lowersurface of the axle tobebent. I

8. An axle press comprising a strongback bar including a pair oi. spacedplates, rigidly con-- nected together, and having at intervalscorresponding perforations, hold-down means including a yoke, an anchorpin extending through said yoke and a selected pair of correspondingperiorations of the plates, a shank received by said their combinedeilective length, and terminating in an eye at its upper end, a clevisengageable with an axle, and a clevis pin interengageable between saidyoke and said clevis, and a jack reacting trom said strongback bar andengageable with the axle to bend it.

9. A heavy duty axle press comprising a strongback bar provided with,flanges at the lower portion thereof, constituting a base, a pedestalslidably mounted upon the aforementioned flanges to adjust the pedestallengthwise of the bar, a jack supported by said pedestal and yoke andadjustable relatively thereto to vary mounted in the horizontal plane oithe axle to

